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Ecological Succession is
The observed process of change in the species structure
of an ecological community over time.
The community begins with relatively few pioneering
plants and animals and develops through increasing
complexity until it becomes stable or self-perpetuating as
a climax community.
Succession occurs in all natural environments. Each
environment has a particular name that expresses the
nature of their ecological succession: Primary and
Secondary
Ecological Succession
1st year
Horseweed
dominant;
crabgrass,
pigweed
2nd year
Asters
dominant;
crabgrass
3rd to 18th
year
Grass scrub
community;
broomsedge
grass, pines
coming in
during this
stage
19th to 30th
year
Young pine
forest
30th to 70th
year
Mature pine
forest;
Understory
of young
hardwoods
70th to 100th
year
Pine to
hardwood
transition
100th year
plus
Climax oakhickory forest
Examples of Succession
Primary
Secondary
Primary Succession
The development of an
ecosystem in an area that
has never had a
community living within it
occurs by a process
called PRIMARY
SUCCESSION.
An example of an area in
which a community has
never lived before, would
be a new lava or rock
from a volcano that
makes a new island.
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Primary Succession
6/5/03
Secondary Succession
SECONDARY SUCCESSION begins in habitats where
communities were entirely or partially destroyed by some
kind of damaging event.
When an existing community has been cleared by a
disturbance such as a fire, tornado, etc...and the soil
remains intact, the area begins to return to its natural
community. Because these habitats previously supported
life, secondary succession, unlike primary succession,
begins on substrates that already bear soil. In addition,
the soil contains a native seed bank.
Since the soil is already in place, secondary succession
can take place five to ten times faster than primary
succession.
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12
Cold desert
Tundra
Taiga
Moderate
Temperate forest
Grassland
Deciduous forest
Hot
Hot desert
Savanna
Tropical forest
Rainfall (inches)
0-10
10-20
20-30+
6/5/03
13
14
Threats to Succession
The grasses that move
in as pioneer species
are often thought of as
weeds.
The subsequent growth
of shrubs are
considered undesirable
"brush".
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Clearing the land for the garden and preparing the soil
for planting represents a major external event that
radically re-structures and disrupts a previously
stabilized ecosystem. The disturbed ecosystem will
immediately begin a process of ecological succession.
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